What class and subclass would be the best for being able to do a little bit of everything? This is not for any character I currently plan on making, but I have been looking into it and have wondered what others may think.
I would also toss Artificer into this category. You get tool proficiency, Flash of Genius (add Int to any check/save by you or anyone within 30 feet), spellcasting, the ability to attune to ANY magic item, can create magic items (1/4 time and 1/2 gold, or just Infuse an item to be magic). Two of the subclasses get you Extra Attack: one makes you proficient in Martial Weapons, the other makes you proficient with Heavy Armor.
Note that crafting magic items outside of Artificer Infusions is still subject to DMs discretion. So that part is extremely table and campaign dependent. It's a nice perk if your DM is gonna run an extended campaign and you're gonna have some downtime between plot arcs, but as a general rule you shouldn't bank on crafting anything but your infusions.
Arcane Trickster Rogue/Valor Bard. Both of those classes have expertise and a variety of magic spells, with both classes having a variety of non-combat abilities.
Arcana Cleric 1 into 3 levels of warlock for pact of the tome into divine soul sorcerer. Most of the cantrips in the entire game, mostly a full caster with a lot of first level spells at hand.
Healing, buffs, attack spells, defensive spells, a ton of utility spells and cantrips.
Also consider multiclass posibilities - fey wanderer ranger/ any bard class - yes it’s a bit MAD (Dex, wis, cha) but you get the skills, HP and fighting from ranger (L6 is probably max) and the spells and jack of all trades from the bard so you have expertise in a number of skills, proficiency in more and half proficiency in everything else. That half proficiency is really powerful even at low level where it changes disadvantage into +1. If your going to be a jack of all trades you pretty much have to be or start with bard to get that ability - it’s really that powerful.
That half proficiency is really powerful even at low level where it changes disadvantage into +1.
Disadvantage?
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
It may just be my table but at least there trying a skill you have no proficiency with is done at disadvantage since you really don’t know what your doing.
Granted, the DM does have discretion to say you need proficiency to attempt a roll- insofar as you can make the roll and have a chance to succeed, as opposed to the DM just going "well, you can certainly try"- there's just no hard codified parameters on when you do or don't need it.
Sure, that works for some checks: it makes sense to say that someone needs proficiency in Arcana if they want to attempt to figure out how a magical gizmo works. But many checks can and should be allowed untrained: athletics, perception, stealth, and insight, for example, would all be way too penalizing if you could only make them if you were trained.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Eh, there's arguably a case to be made for Perception and Insight to keep the whole party from fishing at every instance, but that's a matter of specific table dynamics, not an absolute.
The counter to that is if you're playing a build that doesn't get perception especially from your class, race, or background and you're not a class that uses wisdom, you're effectively never going to be able to see an ambush coming. Same goes for insight- ever deception check made against you is virtually an automatic success. That's really not viable.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Mmm, idk. The dice have a lot more sway over skills in 5e than some previous editions, at least compared to modifiers. DC 15 isn't an easy check, but in a party of 5 you're statistically likely to have at least one person roll that high just on the d20 if all 5 players roll. No one player without the prof is likely to get it consistently, but between the party as a whole it's decent odds someone could pull it. Like I said, this isn't some massive flaw that needs to be addressed, but I could see where a DM might clamp down a bit if the whole party constantly fishes on such rolls. Especially if it's a larger party. Not saying it's a must, just that I could see where it might come to feel needed.
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What class and subclass would be the best for being able to do a little bit of everything? This is not for any character I currently plan on making, but I have been looking into it and have wondered what others may think.
Bard, especially Valor Bard.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Fey Wanderer Ranger
Valor Bard
Redemption Paladin
Bladesinger Wizard
Moon Druid
I never knew artificers could do so much
Note that crafting magic items outside of Artificer Infusions is still subject to DMs discretion. So that part is extremely table and campaign dependent. It's a nice perk if your DM is gonna run an extended campaign and you're gonna have some downtime between plot arcs, but as a general rule you shouldn't bank on crafting anything but your infusions.
Valor Bard
Monster Fact of the Day: Tarrasque
Tarrasque's have a magical regeneration and are able to reflect spells back at its enemies
Praise Jeff with Your Hole Heart and Soul with the Sign of
DoomJOY to Come!!!!!Arcane Trickster Rogue/Valor Bard. Both of those classes have expertise and a variety of magic spells, with both classes having a variety of non-combat abilities.
Honestly, a cantrip master is great for this.
Arcana Cleric 1 into 3 levels of warlock for pact of the tome into divine soul sorcerer. Most of the cantrips in the entire game, mostly a full caster with a lot of first level spells at hand.
Healing, buffs, attack spells, defensive spells, a ton of utility spells and cantrips.
Also consider multiclass posibilities - fey wanderer ranger/ any bard class - yes it’s a bit MAD (Dex, wis, cha) but you get the skills, HP and fighting from ranger (L6 is probably max) and the spells and jack of all trades from the bard so you have expertise in a number of skills, proficiency in more and half proficiency in everything else. That half proficiency is really powerful even at low level where it changes disadvantage into +1. If your going to be a jack of all trades you pretty much have to be or start with bard to get that ability - it’s really that powerful.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Disadvantage?
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
It may just be my table but at least there trying a skill you have no proficiency with is done at disadvantage since you really don’t know what your doing.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
That is very much a house rule. Normally, a skill check without proficiency is just an ability check.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Granted, the DM does have discretion to say you need proficiency to attempt a roll- insofar as you can make the roll and have a chance to succeed, as opposed to the DM just going "well, you can certainly try"- there's just no hard codified parameters on when you do or don't need it.
Sure, that works for some checks: it makes sense to say that someone needs proficiency in Arcana if they want to attempt to figure out how a magical gizmo works. But many checks can and should be allowed untrained: athletics, perception, stealth, and insight, for example, would all be way too penalizing if you could only make them if you were trained.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Eh, there's arguably a case to be made for Perception and Insight to keep the whole party from fishing at every instance, but that's a matter of specific table dynamics, not an absolute.
The counter to that is if you're playing a build that doesn't get perception especially from your class, race, or background and you're not a class that uses wisdom, you're effectively never going to be able to see an ambush coming. Same goes for insight- ever deception check made against you is virtually an automatic success. That's really not viable.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Mmm, idk. The dice have a lot more sway over skills in 5e than some previous editions, at least compared to modifiers. DC 15 isn't an easy check, but in a party of 5 you're statistically likely to have at least one person roll that high just on the d20 if all 5 players roll. No one player without the prof is likely to get it consistently, but between the party as a whole it's decent odds someone could pull it. Like I said, this isn't some massive flaw that needs to be addressed, but I could see where a DM might clamp down a bit if the whole party constantly fishes on such rolls. Especially if it's a larger party. Not saying it's a must, just that I could see where it might come to feel needed.